Boxmaking machine



Dec. 14, 1954 G. M. RICKUS BOXMAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1951 Zmnentor v Geo/"ye M. R ch/ By I ' attorney Dec. 14, 1954 e. M. RICKUS BOXMAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8. 1951 3 690/306 M. PAC/5 1 Cittornegs Dec. 14, 1954 e. M.-R|CKUS BOXMAKING MACHINE 4 Shee ts-Sheet s 6 Filed Aug. 8, 1951 Iii I5 K Bnnentor Geo/"ye M. Eta/ (Ittorneg Dec. 14, 1954 c us 2,696,612

BOXMAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nventor Geo/:96 M. Ric/(as (utornegs United States Patent BOXMAKING MACHINE.

George :M. Rickus, Wilton, Conn assignor to Hat Corporation of America, Fairfield, C0nn., a corporation of Delaware The present invention relates to apparatus for assembling and securing together the sides of. a. box and a transverse member extending .thereacross. Whilethe intion may be used for boxes of. varioustypes, it is particularly useful-in the makingof hat boxes.

Heretofore inmaking boxes such .as are usedfor hats and similar articles, it has been the custom toappl'y adhesive to theedges. of. the bottom orother transverse member and .insertthem between thesides. Thisrequires a certain amount of delay resulting frornthe. careful insertion of the coated edges and the necessary. time for the setting of the adhesive. Also, due to the possibility of the adhesive running out of the joint it has the tendency to produce. an unsightly box.

It is an object of the present invention. to provide an apparatus for. automatically andaccurately locating a transverse member within thewalls of. aboxandl secure it in position, said positionbeingat any point intermediate the ends of the sides'or at. the end of-the sides to form a bottom for the box.

It is another object of the invention to accurately secure a transverse member within the-sidewalls of the box by means of fasteningmeans passing therethrough and without the used cement .or glue.

A feature of the invention .residesin the complete and accurate control'of the component parts of the box during the assembly'and securing thereof. together by. the apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is the coaction between the plunger and the bottom supporting member whereby the action of the plunger. clamps the bottom to said supportingmember and movesthe bottom and supportingmemberto locate .the bottom in the desired position.

A further featured the invention is the provision of an automatic control system for completely and accurately'assembling and securing the sidewalls and bottom of the box and ejecting. the completely assembled structure so that the operator canreadily remove the same.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

-Figure 1 shows asideview ofthernachinea Fig; 2 is a .detailed fragmentary view,.partly insection, of themachine with the sides-and transverse member in position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar. to Fig. .2showing the transverse member located at the bottom ofzthe side walls and the stapling means operating mechanism in actuated position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the table taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view' of the manually controlled operating system.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view Ofqthfi automatically controlled operating system.

Fig. 7 is a side view, partly broken away, of. the box.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the flanged box bottom.

Fig; 9 is a perspective view=of the--sidesofthe box.

While the machine of the present invention may be used. to secure together the 'side walls. and a transverse member of a. box of various shapes with the transverse member. located. at. various pOS1t1011S"WilZ hi11pth. box, for

' the purpose. of:illustrating; the. inventionit wilLbe, described as. applyingaxbnttomz to, an octagonal haLbQx- .Aassshownrinafig. Lithezmachineqflomyrises atf'rarne 1,0 having a table 11 provided-withza well 12-10 receive the 2,696,612 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 sides A of the hat box. Extending above the table is, a pair of uprights 13connected at the upper end by a transverse member 14. Projectingabove the. transverse member 14 is an inverted V-shaped frame 15, the purpose of which will be more fully described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4', the well comprises anopening ,16 in the table which is shaped to receive the sidesA of the box which is formed of cardboard, paperboard, or other suitable box material scored at.A to forma plurality .of angularly related side panels A as..-shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The side supporting means or well is made up of a plurality of rigid strips 17' which are locatedflat the corners of the octagon. and .form supporting means for the angularly relatedside panels. oflthe box andinten mediate supporting ribs 18 located atsubstantially the midpoint of. each side panel. At the...botto rn of eachrib 18 is an inwardly extending lip 19 which forms astop for the sides when the same are inserted. into the well.

To facilitatethe inserting of the sides into the well, flared guide portions 21 are formed adjacentthe .end of each of .the ribs 17', 1 8'which enable the operatorto more quickly place the angularly related'sides in place.

In the center. of the well' is a bottom supporting member 20 which has its-edges spacedinwardly from the sides of the well; as showninFig. 4, and is normally yieldably held in the position shownin Fig. 2 to-engage theundersurface of a flared bottom B. as shown in Fig. 8, which may be made of cardboard, paperboard" or other suitable box. material, when the latterisinserted in the upperv portion of the side walls with'the flanges engaginglhelside walls as shown in Fig.2.

Whilethe bottom supporting member maybe urged to its normal position by any suitable means, it is herein illustrated. as beingmounted on a reciprocating piston rod 22' connected to a piston 22 ina cylinder 23. T0 insure accurate movement during its operation the. bottom supporting member 20 has a plurality of guide rods .24 connected to the undersurface and operating in guide bushings 25 carried by a subframe, 26 as shown in detail in Fig. 2.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 there is disposedabovethe table a plunger 27. for effecting-the assembly of the bottom and sides. In the illustrated form of the invention the plunger comprises a bottom engaging member 28 and a mounting plate or member 29 for the fastening devices of any suitable type. As herein illustrated they. are stapling devices. Each. of the members is mounted by means of. collars 30 on a reciprocatingpiston rod'31 connected to a piston32 operatingin the cylinder 33 carried by and extending between the transverse bar. '14 and the upper end of the inverted V' frame 15 so asto" be recipro'cated into and out of the well 12. The plunger is guided in its reciprocating movements by means of pairs of rollers 3'4 each adjustably mounted. at 35pm a projecting arm .3 6.-on. each. side of the plunger and riding in. tracks 37. extending between the table and transversefrarnernembcr. The tracks. are adjustable with respect. to the uprights 13 by .means of nut. and bolt adjustments 3.8..so. that anaccurately located and. steady-reciprocatingmovement. may be. had-on the plunger.

The plunger'is normally positioned in. retracted. position: as. shown. in Fig. l and.ha s.a.resilient .cus'hion 39 on the exterior of the mounting member 29'which engages the end of the cylinder and acts to cushion the plunger on its return stroke.v

The stapling. device. mounting member. has a, plurality of. stapling. devices 40 mounted: thereon. about the periphery asshown in Fig. 1. While stapling devices wh ch cut and form. staples fromspool's of wire may be. used, the devices hereinillustrated' areo'f' the Bostich typehaving. arms41. carrying preformed staples. notshown )1 which therefor 'by, .a-.;sj'pring.,.4 5 soasflfto-provide. a predetermined space between "the stapling head? andv the anvil to. permit the stapling head to be positioned on the exterior of the box while the anvil is positioned on the interior of the box within the flanges on the bottom when the plunger moves to the assembling and securing position. As shown in Fig. 4, either side of the supporting rib 18 is cut away at 46 to receive the stapling devices as they move to said assembling and securing position.

It will be noted that the stapling devices are arranged in the present preferred form of the invention with two stapling devices on each side of the box and are uniformly spaced so as to accurately secure the bottom to the sides. When the stapling devices have moved through the openings in the table and to a position shown in Fig. 3, the stapling heads will overlie the exterior of the box adjacent the lower portion thereof and the bottom engaging member will be disposed within the box and within the flanges on the bottom with the bottom accurately positioned at the bottom of the sides and the anvil on the edge thereof located within the flanges of the bottom so that the staple 47 will pass therethrough and be clinched over, when the stapling device is actuated, as shown in Fig. 7. To actuate the stapling devices, there are a plurality of operating means 48 carried by the subframe 26. In the illustrated form of the invention I provide one operating means for each side of the box, which means includes a striker head 49 which is of a length to engage the stapling heads of the pair of stapling devices overlying the side of the box. The striking head is carried by a piston rod 50 of a piston 51 operating in cylinder 52. The striking head is normally held in retracted position. A solenoid operated valve 53 is connected to the cylinder to cause the piston to be projected to actuate the striking heads. A guide plate 54 extends outwardly beyond the striker head and under the stapling head to guide the striking head as it is actuated to drive the staples.

In illustrating the operating system diagrammatically in Figs. and 6, I have shown a fluid system for the cylinders 23 and 33 and for one of the stapling device operating means 48, all in normal position, it being understood that the stapling device operating means cylinders 52 are connected in multiple, as may be necessary. Any suitable fluid under pressure may be used to drive the pistons. In the preferred form of the invention, I employ air under pressure.

Fig. 5 shows a manually operated system in which air is pumped to a storage tank 55. Cylinder 33 is connected to the tank through a valve 56 so that pressure from the tank passes to the rod end of the cylinder and holds the plunger in retracted position. Cylinder 23 is connected to the tank 55 through a pressure reducing valve 57 so that a lower pressure than applied to cylinder 33 is applied to the head end of the cylinder 23 to hold the bottom supporting member in its normal raised position and yet permit it to yield under the action of the plunger. Cylinders 52 are connected through solenoid valve 53 to the tank 55, the valve being urged by spring 58 to a position that pressure is applied to the rod end holding the striker heads in retracted position. Valve 56 is manually turned to connect the head end of cylinder 33 to the tank. This causes the piston to move the plunger downwardly. The bottom engaging member 28 first engages the upper surface of the bottom B and clamps it against the supporting member 20. Continued pressure of the plunger overcomes the low pressure in cylinder 23, forces the member 20 and bottom downwardly relatively to the sides A for the full stroke of the plunger and accurately positions it at the bottom of the sides as shown in Fig. 3. The operator then closes the normally open switch 59 to the solenoid 60 on the valve which moves the valve and connects the head end of cylinder 52 to the tank and quickly projects the striker head to actuate the associated stapling heads. As soon as the switch is released, spring 58 restores the valve and the striker heads are returned to retracted position. The operator then returns valve 56 to the position of Fig. 5 and the plunger returns to normal position. As it moves upwardly, the member 20 will follow and raise the secured-together sides and bottom out of the well so that they may be readily removed therefrom.

Fig. 6 shows the operating system for an automatic control. In this system cylinder 33 is connected to the tank through a solenoid operated valve 56' which is normally spring urged to connect the rod end of the piston to pressure to maintain it in retracted position. Cylinders 23 and 52 are connected to the tank in a manner similar to that disclosed in connection with Fig. 5. The operating circuit includes a normally open, manually operated switch 61 which is closed to energize solenoid 62 which will cause the valve to be shifted against the pressure of spring 63 to connect the head end of the cylinder to the pressure tank. At the same time it causes relay 64 to operate and close a holding circuit through the normally open contacts 65. The plunger will move down and position the bottom at the lower portion of the sides as described in connection with Fig. 5. When the plunger reaches the bottom of its stroke, it will close a normally open switch 59 to actuate the operator for the striking head which will be projected and clinch the staples. As the striking head moves to the end of its stroke it will open the normally closed switch 66 in the solenoid circuit and at the same time will open the circuit to the relay which will break the holding circuit. The switches 59 and 66 are preferably microswitches so that the amount of movement necessary to close the switch 59 and open the switch 66 is very minute and hence the sequence of operation will be such that the switch 66 will not be actuated until the striking head is moved sufliciently to clinch the staple and immediately thereafter the plunger will start to rise and open the circuit at the switch 59.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a machine for assembling and fastening preformed sides and a separate transverse member of a box, the combination of supporting means for supporting the sides of the box; a preformed transverse member support yieldably positioned within the side support to receive and engage one face of the flanged transverse member separate from the sides and inserted within the upper portion of the sides supported by the supporting means therefor; a reciprocating plunger engageable only with the other face of the transverse member and operable to move the member relative to the sides and to a predetermined position with respect to the sides, the transverse member support yielding under the action of the plunger and properly locating the member in said predetermined position; and means registering with said predetermined position for driving a fastening device through the flanges of the transverse member and the sides of the box to secure the same together.

2. In a machine for assembling and fastening preformed sides and a bottom of a box, the combination of means for supporting the preformed sides of the box, a reciprocating bottom sup port normally yieldably positioned within the side support to receive the separate flanged bottom inserted within the upper portion of the sides, a reciprocating plunger movable from a normally retracted position into engagement with the upper surface of the bottom and operable to clamp the bottom to the support and move the bottom and support relative to the preformed sides and to the lower portion of the sides to properly locate the bottom in a predetermined position with respect to the sides, the bottom support yielding under the action of the plunger; and means registering with said predetermined position for securing the flanges of the bottom to the sides of the box, said bottom support moving the secured-together sides and bottom out of the means for supporting the sides when the plunger returns to said normally retracted position.

3. In a machine for assembling and fastening the sides and a transverse member of a box, the combination of means for supporting the sides of the box; a support located within the side support means and normally positioned to receive and engage one face of a flanged transverse member inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a low pressure fluid means yieldingly urging said support to said normal position; a plunger disposed above the support; a high pressure fluid means moving the plunger into engagement with the other face of the transverse member and operable to move the member and support along the sides to a predetermined position with respect to the sides, the support yielding under the action of the plunger and properly locating the member in said predetermined position; fastening means carried by :the plunger; and fluid pressure means actuated when the member has been moved to said predetermined position to operate the last-named means for securing the flanges of the member to the sides of the box.

4-. l'na-machinefbr assembling and fastening the-preformed sides and bottom of afbox; the combination pin table having a well'therein for receiving; and supporting said preformed sides of the box; 'a"box"bottomsupport positioned within the well and yieldably located adjacent theitop of the well to receive a flanged bottom inserted within the "upper portion of the sides;--a plunger above the table movable into engagementwith .the-upper-surface of the box. bottom and operable to move the bottom along the sides to the lower portion of the sides, the box bottom support yielding under the action ofthe plunger and moving to a position to properly locate the bottom with-respectto the sides; and staple driving means carried by the plunger and actuated whenmoved to said position for securingith'e properly positionedflanges of the bottom to the sides of the box.

5. In a machine forassembling and. fastening-thepreformed sides and a transverse member of a'box', the combinationof side supportingmeans for supporting, the preformed sides of' the box; a transverse member support yieldably positionedwithi'n the side support. and adapted to.- receive and engage one face of a flanged transverse member inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a plunger normally positioned above the side supporting means; reciprocating .means for movingthe plunger into engagement with the other face of the transverse memher and operable to move the member alongrthe sides to a predetermined position with respect to the sides, the transverse member support yielding under the action of the plunger and properly locating the member in said predetermined position; stapling devices adapted to be located adjacent said predetermined position; operating. means foractuating the stapling devices-tousecure the flanges of:the:member to the sides ofthebox; and controlmeans including means for actuating the reciprocating means ;to move the :plunger to said predetermined.position. ,means operated in response to the plunger reaching said predetermined position for actuating the operating means for actuating the stapling devices, and means actuated in response to operation of the last-named means for operating the reciprocating means to return the plunger to normal position.

6. In a machine for assembling and fastening the preformed sides and the bottom of a box, the combination of a frame; a table on the frame having a well therein for receiving and supporting the sides of the box; a box bottom support disposed within the well; fluid operated means yieldably positioning said bottom support adjacent the top of the well to receive a flanged bottom inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a plunger mounted on the frame above the table; a second fluid operated means moving said plunger into engagement with the upper surface of the box bottom and operable to move the bottom to the lower portion of the sides, the fluid operated means for the bottom support being overcome by the pressure of the plunger and said support moving to a position to properly locate the bottom with respect to the sides; and fastening means carried by the plunger for securing the properly positioned flanges of the bottom to the sides of the box.

7. In a machine for assembling and fastening the sldes and a transverse member of a box, the combination of side supporting means for supporting the sides of the boxaa transverse member support yieldably positioned within the side support and adapted to receive and engage one face of a flanged transverse member inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a plunger normally positioned above the side supporting means; fluid pressure means for moving the plunger into engagement with the other face of the transverse member and operable to move the member to a predetermined position with respect to the sides, the transverse member support yielding under the action of the plunger and properly locating the member in said predetermined position; stapling devices adapted to be located adjacent said predetermined position; operating means including a second fluid pressure means, for actuating the stapling devices to secure the flan es of the member to the sides of the box; means for supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid pressure means; and control means therefor including solenoid controlled valves for each of said fluid pressure means, and an electric circuit for said solenoids including a first switch means operated by the plunger to actuate the valve for the second fluid means to initiate the operation thereof and second switch means actuated by operating means for the stapling devices .6 for-controlling the valve of thefirstfluid means: to return the plunger to normalposition.

8. In a machine for assembling andfastening the sides and bottom of a box, the combination of a table-having a Well thereinfor receiving and supporting the sides'of the box; a box bottom-support positioned-within-the well and yieldably located adjacent the'top-of'theweil to receive a flanged-bottom inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a plunger disposed above-the table comprising a-bottom engaging member and a stapling device mounting member fixed in spacedrelation on a piston rod; a cylinder mounted on the frame and having a piston therein connectedto said rod' to move the bottom'engaging memher into engagement with the uppersurface of the box bottom and operable to move the bottom to the lower portionof the sides, the box bottom support yielding under the action of'theplunger and moving'to ap'osition to properly locatethe-bottom with respect to the sides; a plural ity of stapling devices carried bythemounting-membcr; and means operated when the bottom is properly positinned to actuate thestapl'ing devicesgandsecurethe flanges of the bottom to the sides of; the box.

9. In' a machine for assemblingand fastening the sides and bottom of a box, :the' combination of a. table having a well therein for receiving and supporting the sides of thebox; a box bottom support positioned Within the well and yieldably located adjacent the top of the well to receive a flanged bottom inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a plunger disposedabove the table comprising a bottom engaging member and a stapler mountin'g'member fixed in spaced relation on a piston rod; a cylinder mounted on the frame and having a piston thereinconnected to said rod to move the bottom engaging member withinithe flanges andinto engagement with the upper surface of the'box'bottom to clamp the bottom to said bottom support and to move the support and bottom to the lower portion of the sides'to properl y'locate the bottom with respect to the sides, the box bottom support yielding under the action of the plunger; a plurality of stapling devices carried by the mounting member with the stapling heads thereof located on the exterior of the sides and over the edge of the bottom engaging member; and means op erated when the bottom is properly positioned to actuate the stapling devices and secure the flanges of the bottom to the inner sides of the box.

10. In a machine for assembling and fastening the sides and bottom of a box, the combination of a table having a well therein for receiving and supporting the sides of the box; a box bottom support positioned within the well and yieldably located adjacent the top of the well to receive a flanged bottom inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a plunger disposed above the table comprising a bottom engaging member and a member having a plurality of stapling devices thereon, said members being fixed in spaced relation on a piston rod with the stapling heads of the stapling devices overlying staple turning anvils on the edge of the bottom engaging member; a cylinder mounted on the frame and having a piston therein connected to said rod to move the bottom engaging member into engagement with the upper surface of the box bottom and operable to move the bottom to properly position the same with respect to the lower portion of the sides and the stapling devices to a position overlying the exterior r of the sides, the box bottom support yielding under the action of said plunger; and means operated when the bottom and stapling devices are properly positioned to actuate the stapling devices and secure the flanges of the bottom to the sides of the box.

11. In a machine for assembling and fastening preformed angularly related sides and the bottom of a box, the combination of a table having a well therein for receiving and supporting the preformed angularly related sides of the box, said well having guide means at the corners thereof to guide the sides thereto; a box bottom support positioned within the well and yieldably located adjacent the top of the well to receive a flanged bottom inserted within the upper portion of the sides, a plunger above the table movable into engagement with the upper surface of the box bottom and operable to move the bottom to the lower portion of the sides, the box bottom support yielding under the action of the plunger and moving the bottom along the sides to a position to properly locate the bottom with-respect to the sides; a plurality of staple driving means carried by the plunger for each side; and means for simultaneously actuating the staple driving means for securing the properly positioned flanges of the bottom to the sides of the box.

12. In a machine for assembling and fastening the sides and a transverse member of an octagonal box, the combination of octagon-shaped means for receiving and supporting the sides of the box, said means having guides at the corners thereof to aid in the insertion of the sides therein; a transverse member support yieldably positioned within the side support and adapted to receive and engage one face of a flanged octagonal transverse member.

inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a reciprocating plunger located above the side supporting means engageable with the other face of the transverse member to move the member to a predetermined position with respect to the sides, the transverse member support yielding under the action of the plunger and properly locating the member in said predetermined position; a pair of staple driving devices uniformly located on each side of the octagon; a single actuator for each pair of devices; and means operating said actuator when the member is in said predetermined position for securing the flanges of the member to the inner sides of the box.

13. In a machine for assembling and fastening the sides and bottom of a box, the combination of well means including a plurality of spaced guides for receiving and supporting the sides of the box; a bottom support yieldably positioned within the well means and adapted to receive a flanged bottom inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a plunger engageable with the upper bottom surface and operable to move the bottom to the lower portion of the sides, the bottom support yielding under the action of the plunger and properly locating the bottom with respect to the sides; a plurality of staple driving devices carried by the plunger and movable to locate the stapling head thereof in a stapling position overlying the sides for securing the flanges of the bottom to the sides of the box; and operating means located 8 around the well means adjacent the bottom thereof to actuate simultaneously the staple driving devices when the latter is moved to stapling position.

14. In a machine for assembling and fastening the sides and bottom of a box, the combination of well means including a plurality of spaced guides for receiving and supporting the sides of the box; a bottom support yieldably positioned within the Well means and adapted to receive a flanged bottom inserted within the upper portion of the sides; a plunger engageable with the upper bottom surface and operable to move the bottom to the lower portion of the sides, the bottom support yielding under the action of the plunger and properly locating the bottom With respect to the sides; a plurality of staple driving devices carried by the plunger and movable to locate the stapling head thereof in a stapling position overlying the sides for securing the flanges of the bottom to the sides of the box; and operating means located around the well means adjacent the bottom thereof to actuate simultaneously the stapling devices When the latter is moved to stapling position, said operating means comprising a striker member having a piston connected thereto, a cylinder for the piston, a valve for the cylinder supplying fluid thereto to normally retract said piston and striker member, and control means for the valve for reversing the action thereof and causing the striker member to be projected to engage and actuate the stapling heads of the stapling device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 980,607 Barrett Jan. 17, 1911 1,190,669 Pitkowsky July 11, 1916 1,841,217 Seizer Jan. 12, 1932 2,352,645 Liebmann July 4, 1944 

